23 thoughts on “All That”

  1. Wally borrows Harry Dinkle’s mouth in panel 3. And the kids today use laptops in class, Batiuk.

  2. “Sprawl Mart”, eh? No wonder Westview’s Main Street is crumbling and vacant. Ever notice how all the couples in Westview are pretty much the same, what with the constant annoying wry banter and all? What am I saying, of course you have. Look at Rachel in panel three, she’s the living embodiment of the perfect Westview spouse: wearily smirking in feigned bemusement at her idiotic man’s latest pitiful attempt at humor. She’ll fit right in at the Westview Wives’ Club.

    Wally really perfects the ol’ Westview “smirk n’ speak” there in panel three, doesn’t he? He’d better watch it, though, because I’ve heard that smirking at your own idiotic wisecrack before you’re finished saying it is like holding in a sneeze: you might blow out a blood vessel in your brain if you’re not careful. But seriously, it’s terrific to see Wally’s recovery progressing at a slightly-less-than-glacial pace. He even made it one whole day without saying “he’s my Buddy”, which is a real benchmark moment for him.

  3. What exactly is Wally studying? His going back to school has only been discussed in the vaguest of terms. I doubt even Batiuk knows the answer.

  5. TheDiva: I’m sure the local community college offers a full range of courses for Westview residents looking to expand their horizons and increase their earning potential. Restaurant management, comic book shop management…they no doubt offer majors in both possible Westviewian career paths. I’m ruling the two other Westview careers (high school teacher and “author”) out because Les has one covered and and I don’t think it’d be a good idea for Wally to be surrounded by a bunch of noisy kids.

  7. Well, I’m actually impressed. Besides that really odd expression of Wally’s in the third panel, neither of them look like they’re starving or about to jump. And that’s not sarcasm from me. With their gaunt cheeks, sunken eyes and overly thin faces I always wondered what was wrong with them.

    Have to say that the ‘c’ in ‘picked’ looks more like an ‘l’, but that’s really a minor error.
    All in all, this actually manages to reach “average work I expect of a comic strip writer”. Dim praise, I know, but considering the repetition of strips over and over, the fairly sexist suggestions, the plots that ground to a halt and the internal continuity errors that I’ve been used to it’s actually a good sign when Batiuk shows he can still write something normal.

  8. What’s great is that Wally never has to use finger quotes when “being sarcastic”, he is able to make quotation marks appear on both sides of his mouth.

  9. “Dear Mr. Batiuk, ‘Star Wars’ is a registered trademark of Lucas Enterprises. Please cease and desist from using any reference to our protected materials in the future. Oh, and as an aside, your comic strip sucks.”

  10. Tommy, if this is some feeble attempt to garner favor with Disney, it won’t work. There are some franchises even Disney won’t touch!!

  11. @Gyre: Have to say that the ‘c’ in ‘picked’ looks more like an ‘l’, but that’s really a minor error.

    Not to worry! I’ve transcribed the dialogue as a public service:

    Wally: What’s ahh that?

    Rachel: I pilked up some stuff for my cohhege boy! Notebooks, balkpalk for your books and stuff, markers for highhighting…

    W: Phease don’t tehh me you pilked up a ‘Star Wars’ hunch box.

  13. Thanks to oddnoc we finally know what the characters sound like when they talk around their smirks.

  14. As per usual Batiuk’s attempt to replicate the lighthearted banter that goes on between a couple is stilted and unnatural However; the artwork in the last panel is not dull, it’s claw you eyes out eyes out hideous, but it’s not dull.

  15. “I was going to but there was only one left and John and Crazy Harry were having a slap fight over it in the aisle.”

    Wally going to community college. Maybe he’ll have classes with his adopted daughter (wouldn’t she have been in the same class with Summer?) If it’s anything the CC I went to, she’s the perfect target for those bored instructors on the make. Lot’s of storyline potential.

    Which means this will wrap up Saturday and we won’t darken those hallways until he graduates.

  16. I like how BatHack keeps us guessing with the artwork. In the first 2 panels, Rachel looks very, very pretty. Nice figure, youthful face. I mean, if she is really in her late 30’s, then good for Wally. Then, BOOM, p3 and we see a guy with a red wig and cauliflower ear. Genius I tell ya.

  17. Now that Rachel has done something nice for Wally, will she expect him to put out?!

  18. Could you imagine if Batiuk had a merchandising deal like Peanuts & Garfield? What piece of merchandise would you like to see?

  19. Considering Wally and Rachel have yet to converse on what classes he’s taking, I find myself wondering if Rachel did this to force the issue. But WIMMEN! Always shopping and being cutesy, amirite?

    *sigh*

    Tom. Get help.

  22. Bald caps.
    Smelly hats.
    One-armed band jackets.
    Life-size inflatable Rachel doll.

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